November 13/16 11:18 am - Verge Northampton International Day 1: Rochette wins

Posted by Editoress on 11/13/16
 

Maghalie Rochette and Curtis White ride to solo victories on Day 1 at The Verge Northampton International

The Verge Northampton International saw the first weekend of chilly, autumn New England weather at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. Now in its 26th year, the Northampton event remains the oldest UCI race in the U.S. and a New England favorite. In the second weekend of competition for the Vittoria Northeast Cyclocross Series presented by Cycle-Smart, newly-minted Canadian National Champion Maghalie Rochette (Clif Pro Team) took a commanding win in the Elite Women's Category 2 (C2) race over second-place Emma White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com). Curtis White (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) took the win for the Elite Men.

Rochette lead the race out from the gun, but a small group would present challenges throughout the day from Emma White, Ellen Noble (Aspire Racing), and Crystal Anthony (Maxxis-Shimano Pro Cyclocross). White put in an attack that split the group and went clear with Rochette with three laps to go. With two to go, Rochette retook the lead and never looked backed.

Rochette was thrilled for her second race win in a row. "It feels kind of weird but pretty awesome to be winning twice in a row, it's cool. I went to the front and it was quite windy so I didn't want to pull too hard so I was just kind of running at the front. And then Emma (White) went to the front and she was running really well. So I think with two laps to go she got a gap on me on the run up but she attacked right after and she had a bobble so I was able to pass her and I got a gap so after that it was just a matter of keeping it clean and rubber side down but it was a good battle, Emma was super strong today so it was fun."

Coming into the weekend, Rochette was ranked 18th on the USA Cycling Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar standings for elite women. It was her first C2 win on the Pro CX schedule.

In the Men's C2 race, Curtis White added his fourth Pro CX win to his resume. A group of eight riders remained together for several laps, but White attacked with three laps to go and Jeremy Powers (Aspire Racing) would bobble on a technical descent allowing White a gap from the group. Powers would finish fourth, more than 30 seconds behind White.

White would make several attacks before going clear. "I think we all were kind of trading blows, it was group racing for a bit and with about four laps to go, I think I hit in the flat field, got a little bit of a gap but things kind of came back together. I hit it again over the top of the runup and I think there was a little bit of separation there and I heard someone bobble behind but I'm not entirely sure what was happening. I just kept going forward and the gap was slowly growing. Two to go I felt like the gap wasn't coming down at all and within the last lap I was kind of in cruise mode. It was a solid race, if I made a mistake the group was right there behind so I had to be really careful about that."

Jack Kisseberth (JAM/NCC) finished second, sprinting ahead of Jeremy Durrin (Neon Velo Cycling Team), who finished third. White sits fourth in the men's individual Pro CX standings and leads the Vittoria Series.

Report courtesy Lauren LeClaire, Vittoria Series Media Coordinator